Youth Leadership
Grow as a leader, mentor others, and shape your community.
What We Offer
Our youth leadership programs provide safe, supportive spaces for you to grow as leaders, mentors, and changemakers. Whether through advisory roles, peer mentorship, or culturally grounded workshops, you’ll gain the tools to lead with intention and impact.
Youth Leadership Team
Todd Wilson
Director, Life Readiness
Todd Wilson
Director, Life Readiness
Todd Wilson is the Director of Life Readiness at Liliʻuokalani Center and has worked his entire career in education design and program management.
Most recently at the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, he advised on federal grant projects transitioning from COVID-19 restrictions to developing school and student health networks. Previously, as a consultant, Todd designed professional development systems to transition the Department of Defense Education Agency and Hawaiʻi Department of Education to the Common Core Standards, supporting agency-wide changes focused on performance data and instructional design. Before these large projects, he led youth-focused environmental programs in California and New Mexico, along with summer programs focused on wilderness, sustainability, and global dialogue. He has worked at public, independent, and charter schools and started as a writing teacher in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a placement through Teach For America.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Grand Valley State University and his Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Education from St. John’s College.
Seiya Yoshida
Manager, Youth Leadership
Seiya Yoshida
Manager, Youth Leadership
Seiya Yoshida is the Manager of Youth Leadership at Liliʻuokalani Center, where he works to cultivate spaces where kamalei can lead, create, and thrive. Born and raised on Oʻahu, his role focuses on empowering young people of Hawaiʻi to develop leadership skills, build meaningful relationships, and take an active role in shaping the programs and spaces around them. At Liliʻuokalani Center, he works to create opportunities for kamalei to have a voice in decision making, lead initiatives, and contribute to the culture of the center. By encouraging youth to take ownership of their ideas and projects, he helps build an environment where young people feel seen, valued, and capable of making an impact.
Seiya brings a strong background in youth development and creative entrepreneurship through his work co-founding and directing Vivistop Honolulu, a creative lab and “dream incubator” where young people explored their passions through hands-on learning. The space emphasized creativity, collaboration, and youth-driven projects. Through his work, he strives to nurture confident, thoughtful leaders who understand their kuleana to their communities.
Phoebe Shmull
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Phoebe Shmull
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Phoebe Rei N. Shmull is the Youth Leadership Coordinator at Liliʻuokalani Center and an undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Born in Guam and of Palauan heritage, she is passionate about Pacific Islander cultural preservation and Indigenous knowledge. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, participating in outdoor activities, and learning through her lived experiences. Her journey through youth programs continues to inspire her dedication to mentoring and uplifting the next generation, especially within Indigenous communities.
Connect with us
Ready to join our community and discover your passions? We can’t wait to meet you!